From Green Bay,
Hollywood seems a million miles away for anybody aching to break
into movies and TV.

“You can’t get
there from here” rings in most minds.

Basically,
that’s true. But there are ways to wriggle into the business from
here or anywhere, if you have the desire.

A lot of the
basics are spelled out in a breezy and sometimes comical new book,
Hollywood USA How to get into the Movie Business without Moving to
Los Angeles or New York.

It’s
co-authored by someone from around here who is caught up in some
nifty projects. You would think what he says works.

Phil Kramer,
who grew up in Manitowoc, is art coordinator for many network and
TV movie productions. He feels you can get there from here.

“What a lot of
people don’t realize is there are 178 film commissions in the
United States,” Kramer says. “Every state has at least one.”

A break could
come by finding out what location film projects are coming up,
then making your presence known.

Nothing is
simple, and no one is going to hand you anything. But if you want
some tips, Hollywood USA is a good start.

It’s available
at $ 18.95 through Eggman Publishing. (800) 396-4626 or at
bookstores.

The book guides
you through such things getting a photograph taken (“You should
not have your hands touching your face”), finding an agent (one
franchised to the Screen Actors Guild is recommended) and writing
a resume (“Don’t put down on your resume that you are a stunt man
if you’re not. Believe me, you can die.”)

Among other
basics, the book lists all the film commissions. Here’s a start:
Wisconsin Film Office 123 W. Washington Ave., 6th
Floor Madison, WI 53702-0001.

Kramer got his
start through hometown buddies who had hooked up with country
singer Kenny Rogers. Kramer was invited for a visit in Los Angeles
and got swept into a flurry of shows and movies.

“ From a couple
of little things here and there, I tell you what, I feel real
fortunate where I am today,” he says.

Two recent
projects were ministries Streets of Laredo and the coming TV movie
Deadman’s Walk, both filmed in Texas.

More than 500
extras were part of dead man’s walk. They had questions everyday.
“What’s my next step? What do I do now? How do I do it?"
Kramer’s partner in the book, Randal Patrick, was once and extra
like that. Patrick stumbled on to a set while on his way to
college, was intrigued by the process and pursued acting and
screen writing.

“Through his
experience, he’s had tons of parts all over the country, living in
different areas,” Kramer says.

“There’s so
much that can be done other than in L.A. or New York.”

Naturally, to
make it and be a star you will have to go to where the main action
is.

But
opportunities can rise closer to home, and in associated fields.
Kramer covers that in the Hollywood U.S.A. too.

“The premise is
if you live in Des Monies, Iowa, and you want get your kid in the
J.C. Penney ad in the Sunday paper, here’s how to go about it as
opposed to having to get in the car and go to L.A.” Kramer says.